Pattern of malignant bone tumour in northern areas of Pakistan.

A review of 280 primary malignant bone tumours diagnosed during 1984-1988 is presented. These constituted 3.14% of all malignant tumours. Male to female ratio was 2.3:1. Majority of these patients presented with rapidly growing mass, pain and deformity. Histologically, osteosarcoma was the most frequent (36.4%) primary malignant tumour. Male to female ratio was 3.31:1. More than 49% of these cases were in their second decade of life. In females the greatest frequency was in 10-15 years and in males 16-20 years age groups. Femur was the most frequent site. Other common malignant bone tumours included chondrosarcoma (22.1%), plasma cell myeloma (15.0%) and Ewings's sarcoma (8.6%). Miscellaneous cases of fibrosarcoma, chrodoma, adamentinoma and ameloblastoma were also seen. This study outlines the frequency, symptomatology and histological pattern of various malignant bone tumours in northern areas of Pakistan.